thanksgiving is, after all, a word of action [set on 11/26]

[triskehale]

Thanksgivings in the Hale house used to be quite the big deal. Feeding over a dozen werewolves, many of them teenagers was no easy feat. Derek loved all the chaos, and he helped out in the kitchen since he was old enough to stand on a step stool and reach the counter.

The first year after everyone died, he and Laura each got a rotisserie chicken and some biscuits, trying to hang on to some semblance of tradition, but the food tasted like ash. Laura went to bed early, and Derek pretended not to hear her cry. They stopped trying to do anything for the holiday after that.

It's been almost a decade since that disastrous attempt, and a few months ago Derek decided that he wanted to try again. While Laura and the rest of his family will always be the cause of this gnawing ache in his heart, Derek has a new family here in Darrow. He has so many people that matter to him, and care about him. It's more than Derek deserves, or ever thought that he would get, but he's grateful. He's thankful.

So he decides that he's going to do his best to put on a Thanksgiving of his own, and invite his new ragtag sort of pack. His new family.

The invitations go out and on the big day, Derek arrives at Semele's just after dawn. He puts two giant turkeys in the oven and quickly sets up the long table and chairs in the middle of the bar. With each chair he places, Derek marvels over just how many people he has in his life. It's astounding to him, and it's the perfect day to show his gratitude.

And then, all that's left to do is cook. And cook, and cook some more. If he's lucky, he'll have time to go shower and put on something nice before all his guests arrive.


[Hale pack Thanksgiving! Treat this as a gathering post. Tag in, tag around, give thanks! ♥]

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[triskehale]

"No, not really," Derek says quietly, cheeks going pink with embarrassment at Bitty's reaction. He knows that it's pathetic, and he shifts uncomfortably as he curls in on himself a bit. He's only ever really told Kate that, and now he really gets why. He didn't want this sort of reaction.

Bitty says it's a wizard, and Derek wracks his brain a bit. It must be Simon, that cute guy who just got here. Who just got here. But that makes sense, Derek supposes. He seemed sweet, and he smiled easily. They make sense together.

"I have no idea," Derek admits, still feeling awkward. "Is it that Simon guy? I met him. Seemed nice."

[puckandpie]

There's a tinge of pink to Derek's cheeks I'm pretty sure I've never seen before and it makes me frown for a moment, curious. He almost looks embarrassment and I can't imagine why. Did I put that there?

Watching him carefully, I nod. "Simon, yes," I tell him, smiling just a little. "He's really nice. He, uh. He said he met you." It's not surprising, of course. Everyone in Darrow knows Derek or at least meets him in time. I really hadn't thought much of it when Simon mentioned it.

I still can't forget the way Simon had called him my Derek, as ridiculous as it is.

"He also said he doesn't even know if he likes guys or not, but I suppose I have to be a possibly-straight guy's experiment at some point in my life," I say, partially joking and partially not. "Now seems as good a time as any to get it out of the way."

[triskehale]

Derek frowns a little at that, and looks back over at Bitty. Simon is young, and he supposes some people do need to try to be sure, but Derek worries.

"Don't let him jerk you around," Derek tells him, telling himself that he cares so much because he's Bitty's friend, and maybe even his alpha, if he meant what he said in that other place. "You deserve to be more than someone's experiment."

[puckandpie]

There's a sick, terrible part of me that's glad to see that flicker of concern on Derek's face. It makes me feel protected. Cared for. Like, even if Derek doesn't want me the way I want him, I still matter. In some way.

"I know what I'm getting into," I assure him, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. "It's just. It's nice to know someone might want me, you know? Like there's a little bit of hope there."

And Simon is really nice. I thin, even if it turns out he doesn't like guys or even just doesn't like me, he'll be kind about letting me down. Maybe that's a stupid, naive notion all by itself, but I feel like it's something I need right now. Just a tiny bit of hope that someone may even hypothetically find me worth dating.

[triskehale]

"Bitty," Derek says emphatically, turning to face him. His words worry Derek, and he tilts his head as he leans in a little bit. "Of course people will want you."

Bitty is attractive and kind, with a heart more open than anyone Derek has ever met. Of course he'll find someone deserving of him, someone just as warm and caring as he is. Derek isn't sure of much, but he is sure of that.

He's been holding himself back all day, but he reaches out to grip Bitty's shoulder, smiling reassuringly. "It'll be fine, Bitty. He'd be stupid not to like you."

[puckandpie]

I don't really doubt that Derek means what he says. But it's all hypothetical, this vague idea of nameless, shapeless people. And it's easy for him. I could probably name half a dozen people off the top of my head who'd kill to be with him and he can't even see it.

And I'd be at the top of that list. Goodness, how pathetic.

Derek's hand is warm on my shoulder and meant to be comforting, I know, so I give him the best smile I can manage. "It's nice that you think so," I tell him, meaning it completely. "But no one can really control who they like, can they? And I know... I know what I look like."

[triskehale]

"Judging by your tone, I don't think you do," Derek says warmly, shaking him by the shoulder a little before letting go. He rolls his eyes a bit in fond exasperation and pours himself a drink. "Yeah. Nice, attractive blonds with southern accents who can cook. Who would ever want that?"

He turns to raise a sarcastic eyebrow at Bitty and knocks back a drink of whiskey before pointing at him with the glass. "Don't let me catch you talking about yourself like that again, Bitty. You're great. And, as your alpha, you have to believe me."

[puckandpie]

The way he says your Alpha like that should really not make something flip in my belly like it does. He's being protective and it's so so nice that he considers me a member of his pack but... goodness. No. I need to stop torturing myself this way.

"Does being pack mean I give up thinking for myself?" I ask him with a raised brow to mask my mess of nerves before I say, quieter, "Do you really think I'm attractive or are you... Oh, good Lord, nevermind. Please don't answer that," I cut myself off, turning away to quickly take another sip of my beer and hide my face from his view.

He's saying it to be nice, that's all it is. The sooner I stop letting myself think for even a second that there could be more to it, the better.

[triskehale]

"Not unless you're thinking dumb things about yourself," Derek tells him, raising his brow right back. Derek smiles a little as Bitty gets flustered, and Derek tells himself that he was wrong. Bitty doesn't get like this because of Derek, not specifically.

"I'm going to answer it anyway," Derek tells him, reaching for the red wine to refill his glass. He's already down one, but it's done nothing but stain his lips red and make his tongue taste vaguely sour. "Yes, I think you're attractive. And so does Simon, obviously. Kate thinks you're cute. And, as Kate will tell you, she's never wrong. So there you go."

[puckandpie]

I'm aware of Derek moving behind me, but he definitely doesn't get any closer and I take another sip of my drink. And then one more.

I have a sudden flash of fear when he mentions Kate, my head whipping back toward him as I remember the conversation she and I had earlier this afternoon, back when I thought Derek couldn't hear us. Or, well... no, he could. I'm sure he could. I'd just been stupid enough to hope he wasn't paying attention. "Kate?" I ask, wincing at the strained pitch of my voice. "She... she didn't say anything else, did she?"

[triskehale]

Derek raises his eyebrows at Bitty's reaction, looking him over and tilting his head curiously. There's this brief flash of fear, Bitty's little heart pounding away, and Derek wonders what that could be about.

"No, I've barely even talked to her today yet," Derek tells him, wondering if maybe Bitty finding out that multiple people think he's attractive has flustered him a bit. That's good, if so. Bitty could use the confidence. "But she's pretty vocal about her opinions, if you haven't noticed."

[puckandpie]

Derek looks honestly confused when I ask about Kate and not like he's hiding something or humoring or trying to very gently keep from hurting my feelings and, very slowly, I let out a breath I didn't even realized I'd been holding.

Swallowing, I give a quick nod. "No, uh. No, I've definitely noticed," I tell him, quickly hiding the constant flush of my cheeks behind another sip of beer. As fast as I'm drinking this one, I'll probably be a lot closer to drunk soon than I'd really intended. "I like that, though. She really says what's on her mind." Even if it's all embarrassing. "Anyway, uhm... thanks for saying that. That's really nice of you."

Because it is and I can't just ignore it. Even if Derek only means it as an alpha looking out for his pack, it's nice to hear. I'm not stupid enough to try convincing myself I'll be able to not dwell on him saying that one singular phrase over and over for the next few weeks.

[triskehale]

"It's just the truth," Derek says in response to Bitty's gratitude, shrugging one shoulder. He laughs a little when Bitty drinks more of his beer, attributing the redness of his cheeks to that. "Be careful or I'll have to carry you home."

He winks and then lifts his head when someone calls his name. After finishing off his wine, Derek sets the glass down and stands up, reaching over to pat Bitty on the back. "No one ever told me that being a host was so exhausting. Now don't worry so much. He'd be an idiot not to like you."

Derek gives him a small smile and nods, patting his back one more time before walking away to see what all the commotion is.